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What are endowed and named professors?
Endowed and named faculty benefit from funds that provide reliable and lasting support for generation after generation of faculty.
These gifts honor nationally and internationally known scholars, educators and researchers who bring passion, expertise and creativity to teaching; excel and innovate in their fields; and embody the values we promote in the College of Business.
Endowed and named positions allow ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø State to attract and retain stellar faculty who increase the college’s reputation and create the next generation of business leaders.
Current Endowed Faculty
Building the Future of Business
Sara Hart Kimball Dean of the College of Business
In 1988 William R. and Sara Hart Kimball of Belvedere, California, made a gift to endow the Sara Hart Kimball Dean's Chair in the College of Business. The couple made generous gifts to support several other programs at OSU as well.
At the time the Kimballs made the initial gift for the dean's endowment, Sara said, "We feel there is no better investment in the future than education. We support education not only financially, but also as volunteers. Bill and I feel so strongly about the importance of education that we, and mainly I, want to say a huge 'thank you' to ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø State. We hope this gift will be viewed as a leadership gift, and that many others will experience the enjoyment it gives Bill and me to be able to do this."
Scott and Loni Parrish Chair in the College of Business
In 2022, Loni Austin Parrish, ’81, and Scott N. Parrish, ’81 established the Scott and Loni Parrish Chair: the college’s first endowed chair. The Parrishes are generous supporters of the College of Business, including the construction of Austin Hall.
Shirley E. Droschkey Professor of Accounting
A 1946 business alumna, Shirley Droschkey designated part of her estate to ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø to create an endowed professorship in accounting.
Funds from the Shirley E. Droschkey Professorship help to recruit and retain accounting faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and research.
Shirley E. Droschkey Professor of Accounting
A 1946 business alumna, Shirley Droschkey designated part of her estate to ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø to create an endowed professorship in accounting.
Funds from the Shirley E. Droschkey Professorship help to recruit and retain accounting faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and research.
L. W. "Bill" Lane Professor in Family Business Management
Ambassador L.W. "Bill" Lane, Jr., and his wife, Jean, contributed funds in 1993 to establish an endowed professorship in family business management. It is part of OSU's Family Business Program, which provides information and training to family-owned and operated businesses.
Lane was a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in the Family Business Program in 1991. He passed away in 2010.
Mary Ellen Phillips Professor in Financial Accounting
In 2007 Thomas W. Toomey of Evergreen, Colorado, made a gift to establish an endowed professorship and expand an endowed scholarship in honor of his former accounting professor, Mary Ellen Phillips.
The endowed professorship is designed to support an OSU accounting faculty member who will build on Phillips' legacy of education and research.
Laura B. Smith Faculty Scholar
In 2020, Murray and Linda Smith made a gift that included creating endowed faculty funds in honor of Murray’s parents, who both served as ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø State faculty during the period between 1947 to 1968. The Laura B. Smith Faculty Scholar Fund supports College of Business faculty in interior and apparel design.
Toomey Faculty Fellow
In 2010 Thomas W. Toomey of Evergreen, Colorado, made a $1 million commitment to OSU, half to create a faculty endowment in the College of Business and half to support the construction of Austin Hall. Toomey made a previous $1 million gift to establish an endowed professorship and expand an endowed scholarship in honor of his former accounting professor, Mary Ellen Phillips.
Toomey Faculty Fellow
In 2010 Thomas W. Toomey of Evergreen, Colorado, made a $1 million commitment to OSU, half to create a faculty endowment in the College of Business and half to support the construction of Austin Hall. Toomey made a previous $1 million gift to establish an endowed professorship and expand an endowed scholarship in honor of his former accounting professor, Mary Ellen Phillips.